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Original poster

How much do cats cost?

30 replies

Smurfgirl · 06/06/2007 17:57

Not to buy I mean, like general upkeep, vets bills etc

We are keen to have a cat and have both had cats growing up but never had to pay for one before...

OP posts:

ComeOVeneer · 06/06/2007 18:01

My cats are currently 7 years old and we have insurance for them, apart from 1 trip after an unfortunate incident where one was trapped without food or water for several days, the only visits have been for annual vacinations. The insurance is a private one through the vet which is a monthly fee which covers all the vets time, so you only pay for medicines and equipment. So if you go and have nothing actually done you saw £45 a pop. Search around for the best insurance deals. Obviously as they get older the cost potential rises.

iota · 06/06/2007 18:04

I estimate that my cat costs £2 to £3 per week food.
Jabs about £50 annually
I don't use a cattery ( neighbours or live in handmaiden) but a cattery costs about £6 to £8 per day

Vets bills ad hoc - usually a couple of visits per year £50 a time, but you can get pet insurance for about £6 to £8 per month

iota · 06/06/2007 18:06

my vets bills are usually because my ruffy-tuffy monster has been fighting and a bite has gone septic.

Original poster

Smurfgirl · 06/06/2007 18:12

hmmm thats not as expensive as expected, what about de-fleaing/worming?

OP posts:

iota · 06/06/2007 18:21

He gets a worm pill on th annual trip to the vets for jabs - so not much cost there.
Fleas have never been a problem for current cat- he has only ever had one dose of Frontline - so not a huge cost there either.

You might need to buy a pet carrier ( or borrow one) for the trips to the vet.

Cat beds were a waste of money - every cat I have had chooses where to sleep and changes the location fairly regularly. A cardboard box with a blanket in it will be fine.

dinny · 06/06/2007 18:23

can I crash? anyone know where I can get a kitten? our local RSPCA won't rehome kittens with us as kids are too young (but are v gentle, we lost our dear old rescue cat in Jan)

Lucycat · 06/06/2007 18:24

if you get a kitten you'll also need to fork out to get their gubbins sorted out so no more kits - we got a 15% discount as we had 2 done at the same time.

Insurance is soooo worth it at about £5 a month.

We bled PetPlan dry with Lucycat's sister!

Lucycat · 06/06/2007 18:25

Best place for kitten spotting is the school playground - ask around!

Original poster

Smurfgirl · 06/06/2007 18:27

My parents cats do sleep in their beds actually, always have but they are odd.

Would like a indoor cat really but we shall see what we can get.

OP posts:

OrmIrian · 06/06/2007 18:27

I don't get mine immunised. She's 14 and the healthiest animal I know. She was neutered as a kitten but can't remember what that cost. Flea treatment is about £34 a year, worming tablets - very little (can't remember), Food about 3 a week. Don't use a cattery (can't because we didn't immunise) but a neihgbour comes in to look after her. Fitting a cat flap can cost a bit if you don't have a suitable door.

dinny · 06/06/2007 18:28

Smurfgirl, if you get an adult cat from a recue centre you may find one that likes to live indoors - one of our two rescue cats HATED the outdoors, bless him.

ComeOVeneer · 06/06/2007 18:29

A lot of vets do a free neutering service (especially if you get their vaccinations done - once done you don't have to go back every year if you don't want to)

Original poster

Smurfgirl · 06/06/2007 18:42

My parents cats are 8 now i think and its a lovely age (how sad does that sound) they are so chilled out and low matience, we would ideally like one of a similar age thats happy to bum round the house with us. They are indoor as well which i love - where we live its not lovely and i would worry about little sods with bb guns and students bombing down the road in their cars.

My mum keeps telling me not to get one because we are not 'ready' whatever that means so we are putting it off but i am desparate for a cat

OP posts:

dinny · 06/06/2007 19:54

that's so sweet, Smurfgirl (that they are a lovely age) - lucky mog to have such a loving mama, lol.

wannaBe · 06/06/2007 20:35

"not ready" lol sounds like she thinks you're planning to have a baby not a cat .

If you get an older cat it may already have been newtered, if you get a cat over 8 years old though it will be hard to get insurance for it as lots of insurance companies won't take out new policies for cats over 8. if planning to have an indoor cat a litter tray/litter is also an expense...

Washersaurus · 06/06/2007 20:57

My cats cost me an absolute fortune...I mean thousands! It is the luck of the draw I suppose

We found out he was blind, with glaucoma and cataracts, when he was a couple of months old. He suffers with cystitis and is on a prescribed diet and a permanent prescription of antibiotics.

He has (with the help of other cat) destroyed 2 brand new sofas with his claws, ruined 4/5 expensive rugs with vomit stains, and a combination of claws and vomit stains led to us re-laying all the carpet in the house.

The other cat pissed and pooed on my bed so much that I had to buy a brand new one and a new feather duvet

I hope this helps with your decision

dinny · 06/06/2007 21:04

actually, should post what my cats cost me - loads, sadly. One developed unknown stomach problem that needed investigation, two ops, and she was eventually put to sleep. That bill was about 2k in all. My other cat at one point had a blocked urthethra and needed emergency surgery over a weekend then a week-long stay at vet's and ongoing treatment, which cost about 3k in all. then a cpl of years later he became very ill with a tumour and was put to sleep eventually.

they were both adult rescue cats and we couldn't claim on insurance for either lots of vet bill as they said they were prob 'pre-existing conditions'.

that's on top of all the usual vets' costs of jabs, de-fleaing, worming, teeth, check-ups etc

so, a bloody fortune, thinking about it!

bubblerock · 06/06/2007 21:10

I don't have a cat, oh, apart from the bloody stray that has made itself quite comfortable on the sofa as we speak I seem to attract them - I also have a canary bunked in with my budgies that I found at the park last week - both available for good homes if you're near Blackpool anyone (pretty please)

j20baby · 06/06/2007 21:17

smurfy

if you want a kitten, i've still got one left or Dinny if your not too far away

dinny · 06/06/2007 21:18

whre ae you, J20?

j20baby · 06/06/2007 21:20

i'm in Hull, i know smurf is close to me, thats why i posted

dinny · 06/06/2007 21:21

oooh, no - we're in the SE, thanks though

BishyBarneyBee · 06/06/2007 21:23

£600 if they get hit by a car and crack their pelvis

charliecat · 06/06/2007 21:24

My cat, a stray who wouldnt go away, is costing an arm and a leg.
He is diabetic. He needs injected at 8am and 8pm.
Each vet visit costs £90 when he needs stabilised.
He also costs £15-25 a month in needles and insulin.
You try getting someone to look after your cat when they have to inject him twice a day
Get insurance.

gingeme · 06/06/2007 21:25

Smurfgirl we are looking to re home our cat. If your interested hes a long haired black cat. An indoor cat. He is 9 and hes all up to date with jabs worming etc. We have a 3 year old boy and 7 month old boy and one on the way and our 7 month old is starting to hassle him so hes becoming a bit bad tempered. Can give you all the stuff. Carrier,litter tray, food etc. What you think? Hes mega chilled and great at catching flies. Im in North London btw.
Oh his name is Samson by the way.

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